The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-03-26
CELESTIAL ODDITIES.
Some of the Queer Customs Prevailing in
China and Japan.

China and Japan.
The Chinese wear white during pc
RODS of mourning, never black. The
old men playfully fly kites, while the
boys look on, as in Japan. They whiten
their shoes with chalk, instead of black
ing them, and mount their horses from
the off side. The men in China wear
:he petticoats. while the women invari-
ably wear pantaloons. Men run the
dressmaking and millinery stores. and
every man carries fan, either in his
hand or tucked in the collar of his dress
behind the neck. Women smoke on all
occasions. When man has suffered
an injury at the hands of another and
desires revenge, instead of killing his
offender he kills himself, believing that
the man whom he hates will be held ac-
countable for his death, and will be fear
fully tormented by demons in this world
and in the next. If a Chinaman wishes
to especially honor any one, he assigns
him to a standing or sitting position
on his left hand. Instead of a Japanese
woman COMPRISING her feet as her
Chinese sister does, she has custom
far more disgusting. They naturally
have fine teeth, but when woman
marries she is compelled by custom to
dye her teeth black, which process is
repeated every few years. The effect
las hideous in the extrame. The most
~, persaae article of a native woman's
dress is the obi or sash. This is usually
of costly material, and is tied behind
in huge bow with the strictest care.
When a japanese woman becomes
widow and signifies her determination
never to marry again, she ties the obi
in front. They seem to smoke all the
time. The tiny Japanese pipe contains
but two or three whiffs, as the tobacco
is rolled up tightly in the fingers before
it is inserted, the ash when shaken out
is small fire ball, from which second
pipe is lighted. At Japanese feast
the same cup is passed from hand to
hand, each person rinsing it in bowl
of water after using and before offering
it to another, The lowest classes of
Japanese are buried in squatting posi-
ton, in a sort of barrel. It's mistake to
suppose that the burying of the dead is
universal in Japan. The rich and tho
noble are buried in square collins, the
bodies being partially preserved from
decay by filing the nose, ears and mouth
with vermillIon. After death the per-
son receives new name. This name is
"Okwuna, or the accompanying name.
1t is customary on the occasion of The
first visit to house to carry a present
to the owner, who gives something of
equal value on returning the visit. Cats
in Japan are found with stumps where
there should be tails Sometimes this
/ is the result of art and sometimes the
result of shortening. ALI the temples
of Japan as well as of China, have
guests apartments, which may be ST.
cured for Il consideration, either for o
short or long period of time. til wrong
to suppose that there is any Dissertation
of sacred shrine for the purpose Of
using it as hostelry; it is the custom
of the country. The practice of suicide
by disembowling is of great antiquity.
On entering Japanese house the native
removes his sword, leaving only his dirk.
The rooms of the house are divided by
paper screens, which form partitions,
and they may be made into one room at
will. Hong Kong Cor. Baltimore Ansert-
/ can.